Police to display flex boards of externed criminals across city

ST CORRESPONDENT

Sunday, 20 August 2017

Criminals are externed to maintain law and order in the city, but the externed criminals are often spotted in the city and are also involved in criminal activities, despite being externed from the city limits.

PUNE: With the frequent violation of the externment order of the city police by criminals, city police officials have now decided to display flex boards of externed criminals, so that people can alert the city police if the concerned criminals are present in the city. Senior police officials have always expressed their concern regarding violation of the externment orders.

Criminals are externed to maintain law and order in the city, but the externed criminals are often spotted in the city and are also involved in criminal activities, despite being externed from the city limits. This time, the city police are also sharing the images of externed criminals on WhatsApp, so the citizens can report to police in case the criminal is spotted in the city during his externment period.

On Saturday, officials of Khadak police said that a history sheeter, Pravin alias Chankya Vilas Salve (27) from Bhavani Peth has been externed from Pune district for a period of two years. Police Sub-inspector Sanjay Gaikwad of Khadak police station said that Pravin is involved in crimes like arms act, riots, attempt to murder and assault. The proposal to extern Pravin was sent to Commissioner of Police Rashmi Shukla, which was approved by her.

The decision to place flex boards of externed criminals comes ahead of the upcoming festive season, to maintain law and order in the city.

Apart from this, to keep a watch on externed criminals, a team of police officials from local police stations will pay surprise visits to the house of criminals and also be in touch with local informers, so that the police are alerted if the externed criminal has violated the law.

The city police have externed over 600 criminals in the past three years.

What is externment?
As per section 55 of Bombay Police Act, 1951, if the movement or encampment of any gang or body of persons is causing or is calculated to cause danger or alarm or reasonable suspicion that unlawful designs are entertained by such gang, or by members thereof, then such gangs/bodies of persons can be dispersed and ordered that they remove themselves outside the area. This is process is called externment of gangs and Sub-Divisional Magistrates in Districts and DCPs in Commissionerates are empowered to pass such orders.